OK, Brian Westbrook's injury may have cost them a victory in Chicago. Reid was criticized for calling three failed goal-line runs against the Bears, and he repeated the act with two failed runs from the 1-yard line against the Redskins. On third down, Westbrook ran left and lost yardage. But honestly, why put the game in Westbrook's hands, considering he's playing with a bad ankle and suffered a rib injury in this game? Use him as a decoy and call play-action. Donovan McNabb will do something right, won't he?

NFL Week 5

Week 5 action

Redskins 23, Eagles 17 -- Recap | Box
Giants 44, Seahawks 6 -- Recap | Box
Titans 13, Ravens 10 -- Recap | Box
Bears 34, Lions 7 -- Box score
Falcons 27, Packers 24 -- Recap | Box
Colts 31, Texans 27 -- Recap | Box
Panthers 34, Chiefs 0 -- Recap | Box
Dolphins 17, Chargers 10 -- Recap | Box
Broncos 16, Bucs 13 -- Recap | Box
Cardinals 41, Bills 17 -- Recap | Box
Cowboys 31, Bengals 22 -- Recap | Box
Patriots 30, 49ers 21 -- Recap | Box
Steelers 26, Jaguars 21 -- Recap | Box
Vikings at Saints -- Preview | Notes


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Analysis

• Johnson: 'Wildcat' gives Miami edge
  
• Glazer: Raiders, Rams dysfunctional
  
• Marvez: Broncos elite once again
  

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Video

• Online OT: Week 5 highlights
  
• Buck and Aikman on Redskins
  
• Albert and Johnston on Giants
  

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Photos

• Week 5's best pictures
  
• Raiders' coaching carousel
  

Yes, any team should be able to gain a yard when they need it. But Westbrook isn't 100 percent, and he's no power back. Still, Philly has worse problems. The team's run defense was exposed again, and that's because Jim Johnson's unit is built to be playing with a lead. His guys can run and cover. His front four should never be confused with Reggie White and Jerome Brown.

Granted, the Eagles miss Kevin Curtis, a sure-handed deep threat. And Reid can't seem to stretch opposing defenses, even with rookie DeSean Jackson. The Redskins limited McNabb to 196 passing yards, and this was without their best cornerback Shawn Springs. When you think about it, the Eagles scored only 10 points because Jackson's punt return for a touchdown should have been nullified by Tank Daniels' illegal block. For some reason, the officials picked up their flags.

Cowboys need to shape up

Did you catch a few nervous smiles from Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips on Sunday? He was really grinning when Tony Romo threw a touchdown pass that bounced off the intended receiver into the arms of someone else. Did you notice that Terrell Owens had one catch for 10 yards before finally catching a second-half touchdown? Did you notice that Romo had another turnover? Did you notice that Cincinnati made more mistakes, like Chris Perry losing his third fumble of the season and Carson Palmer missing a wide-open Perry, a simple toss that would have meant a touchdown?

The Cowboys were whipped at Texas Stadium a week ago, and they almost laid a bigger egg this Sunday. You can say that the Cowboys simply played down to the level of their winless opponent. But after last week's loss to Washington, I expected a whole lot more. I'm sure owner Jerry Jones did, too. I think Phillips better start rolling up his sleeves and taking control of the Cowboys' defense, particularly the secondary, and I think he better start chewing a few well-paid butts.

There is no excuse for these continuing turnovers and mistakes. Yes, Dallas has the best talent in the NFL, but they better start playing like it or Jones may want to make a significant move. With the new stadium opening next year, Jones surely doesn't want to see this sloppy play. And he surely wants his guys to start focusing for those huge late-season games. I really don't think players can turn their emotions on and off, depending on the opponent. Wade could end up being on the spot, big time!

QBs? We don't need no QBs

You can never have enough quarterbacks. Smart teams tend to draft a different quarterback every year. Ron Wolf did that with the Packers. Ted Thompson, who eventually replaced him, drafted two quarterbacks last April and the seventh-round pick, Matt Flynn, is better than Brian Brohm, the second-round selection. Go figure.

This is where Matt Millen and the Detroit Lions messed up. After drafting Joey Harrington in the first round in 2002 — and we all know how that selection turned out — the Lions skipped two years before drafting Dan Orlovsky in the fifth round in 2005. He played Sunday against the Bears before limping off with a high ankle sprain. Michigan State's Drew Stanton is the only quarterback the Lions selected in the past three drafts. The Lions literally ignored the most important position in pro football.

Drafting three quarterbacks in seven years is really a joke; the Patriots did that and they had Tom Brady. Heck, we've all seen teams use three quarterbacks in a single game. We can return and mention that the Lions used four No. 1 picks on wide receivers — two of them total busts — but that would be belaboring the obvious.

The Lions have lost four straight now, and we all knew that nice guy and tough guy Jon Kitna was never the answer. Kitna is an average quarterback who happened to be surrounded by an impressive receiving corps the past two seasons. Virtually every quarterback in the league would have big numbers with Mike Martz operating the show and receivers like Roy Williams, Calvin Johnson, Mike Furrey and Shaun McDonald. The Lions still have these receivers, but they really don't have a quarterback. Simply put, that's why the Lions are 0-4 with no hope in sight this season. Did I mention that Detroit has allowed 87 points in these four games before scoring themselves?

Packers, Rodgers hurting

The Packers' noble experiment of dumping Brett Favre for Aaron Rodgers is very close to crashing and burning. Rodgers displayed a lot of courage while playing with a shoulder separation against the Falcons. But despite a three-touchdown, 313-yard effort, Rodgers lost his third game of the season.

The good news is that Green Bay should get back to even next Sunday against lowly Seattle before entering a tough stretch against Indy, Tennessee, at Minnesota and Chicago. Without Cullen Jenkins and Cory Williams (traded to the Browns), the Packers can't stop the run. They are giving up 161 yards rushing a game, and it's getting worse.

This team reached the NFC championship game last season and won 13 games. Well, their over-paid running back Ryan Grant did have his best game (83 yards on 18 carries), but he better turn it into high gear pretty soon or this season could be lost. And speaking of Rodgers, can he continue to chuck it like Ben Roethlisberger is doing? How much pain can he deal with? He passed the first test on Sunday, but there are 11 games to go and the competition isn't going to go easy on him. The Falcons have a nice team, but really, how good is their defense?

Struggles in Seattle

I wonder what Mike Holmgren was thinking Sunday night? Seattle's front office wanted him to retire after last season, but Holmgren decided to return for his final season and collect that $8 million contract. Holmgren really felt his players were behind him, willing to play their very best to make his farewell tour through the league a fitting one. Instead, the Seahawks are looking pretty dreadful and totally disinterested.

The defense allowed 523 yards to the New York Giants, the champs playing without their best receiver Plaxico Burress. Many predicted that Eli Manning might struggle without Plax. What a joke that was! Sinorice Moss, who has ridden the bench most of his New York career, caught his first two touchdown passes, shredding Jim Mora's secondary. Yes, the same Mora who will be Seattle's head coach next season.

Heaven help Holmgren. He may have lost receiver Deion Branch again, but does it really matter? These Seahawks have now lost six of their last seven games in the Eastern Time Zone. They have now lost to Buffalo and the Giants by a combined 62 points. I mean, they could have stayed home and been as productive. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck continues to struggle to find his rhythm, and now his right knee is sore after a low tackle. One thing is certain now: Seattle won't repeat as NFC West champion.